shoot (at)

To shoot a person or creature means to fire, from a hand held weapon -- e.g. a longbow, crossbow or gun -- one or more projectiles which actually hit that person or creature. It is a completed, sucessful action. The person or living creature is either killed or wounded.

You can only shoot a living creature. You "hit" or "strike" a target, say in a marksmanship contest.

To shoot at something (a person, creature or inanimate object) means to fire a gun in the direction of that thing, with the presumed object of hitting that thing, but without necessarily achieving that object.

"Joe shot Pete" - Joe fired a gun at Pete and hit him.

"Joe shot at Pete" - Joe fired a gun at Pete. (And might have hit him, we don't know, but possibly not)

"Joe shot at Pete; four bullets missed but one hit Pete in the arm"

Thanks, Contrex, for the detailed reply.

Further - in a military context, if someone is "shot", it can mean that they were executed by firing squad.

Thanks, Contrex, for your continued guidance.

I appreciate your help very much.